The new Catholic Pope announced that Bioethics would be one of the priorities for his Church. Bioethics is a priority for IHEU too, but for rather different reasons. The Christian right believes that the latest advances in biology are incompatible with their ancient doctrine, and is mobilising itself to oppose these developments (see page 9). By launching the IHEU-Appignani Humanist Center for Bioethics (see page 7), Humanists have at last a world forum to discuss and debate a Human-centred approach to issues in bioethics, and to begin to mount a resistance to the forces of regression. There is no single Humanist position on any of the issues ranging from Euthanasia to Human cloning, and it would be wise to approach the developments with caution (see page 11), but what is undisputable is the need for a life asserting approach: one which does not glorify suffering. Those who exploited the slow public death of Pope John Paul II, those who cannot still accept women as equal members of their own organisation have no right to advance arguments based on Human Dignity.

Each year in Geneva IHEU has the unique opportunity to participate in the proceedings of the UN Human Rights Commission and this year may arguably have seen the most important contribution IHEU had made at this important forum. IHEU has been able to clarify what Secularism is (see page 15), highlight the plight of the Dalits in the Indian subcontinent (see page 16) and remind Human Rights activists of the havoc Islamic Jihad has wreaked on people in Islamic countries (see page 19). In fact IHEU's initiative in organising the 'Victims of Jihad' Conference at the UN in Geneva has been noticed and reported on by many NGOs and governments. It was also significant that Ayaan Hirsi Ali, hailed as 'Daughter of the Enlightenment' by the New York Times, and counted as amongst the world's 100 most important people by Time magazine, spoke eloquently at the Conference on her support for reason and Humanism (see page 14).

The Separation of Religion and State is the one important theme that is common to Humanist organisations all over the world. This is also the theme of the 16th World Humanist Congress to be held in Paris (see page 5). Which aspect of Humanist activism or thinking interests you? Science, Women's Rights, Bioethics, Sustainable Development, Poverty alleviation, Rationalist Heritage, Reformation of Islam, Education, Bioethics, or Social Work? All of them, and more, are on the Congress programme. It will also be an opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn how in New York, Paris and Geneva; in Kampala, Brussels and New Delhi; in Khatmandu, Buenos Aires and Ibadan; in London, Berlin and Oslo, in Stockholm, Lima and Bratislava, IHEU and its member organisations are holding aloft the flag of Humanism and helping advance human civilisation.

Babu Gogineni